Manure fork



-April16,1946. w, HA I 2,398,585

MANURE FORK Filed July 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor AA YMOND M //n YWA RD,

April 16,1945- R. w. HAYWARD 2,398,585

,MANURE FORK Filed July 6, 1944 SSheets-Sheet 2,

bwentm April 16,1946. w HAYWARD 2,398,585

MANURE FORK Filed July 6, 1944 3 Sheejzs-Sheet 3 w a, v 4 3.

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By @Mm W n/away Z? M51615 Patented Apr. 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2,398,585 Mama roux Raymond 'W. Hayward, Stephenson, Mich. Application July 6, 1944, Serial No. 543,668

3 Olaims. (Cl. 214-140) v The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in manure forks, and has for its primary object to provide, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thi character which is adapted to be expeditiously mounted for operation on the Ferguson linkage system of a Ford tractor.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character comprising a unique construction and arrangement whereby the fork will be automatically maintained in a substantially horizontal plane at all times during its elevation.

Another highly important object of the invention isto provide a manure fork of the aforementioned character which may readily be adjusted manually to a horizontal position even though the tractor on which the apparatus is mounted be on an incline.

Still anothe very important object of the invention is to provide a fork of the character described which embodies novel dumping and clearing means.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a manure fork of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantage of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a manure fork constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device mounted on a tractor.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the means for se- The sysare connected by lift rods 4 to a pair of arms 5 on a shaft 6. Mounted between the free end portions of the tension links 3 is a draw bar I.

A tubular metallic arm 8 is secured by a bolt Son the draw bar I. The tubular arm 8 projects forwardly beyond the draw bar I and has fixed on its front end a crosshead I0. Clamps II secure the crosshead III to the tension links 3.

Mounted for swinging movement on the rear end portion of the tubular arm 8 is a fork or head I2. As best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings the head I2 comprises a vertical frame I3. The frame I3 comprises a horizontal upper member I4, a horizontal intermediate member I6 and a pair of lower horizontal members I6. Inner and outer uprights I1 and I8, respectively are mounted on the members I4, I5, and I6. The uprights I1 project above the member I4 and comprise di-' verging lower portions. A metallic web or plate I8 is fixed on the lower portions of the members I! for strengthening the structure. Tines I9 project from the members I6. Extending between the two innermost tines I9 is a shaft 20 which is journaled in the tubular arm 8 for mounting the head I2 for vertical swinging movement thereon. Braces 2| are provided for the outer tines I9.

Brackets 22 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the end portions of the frame structure I3. Journaled in the bracket 22 i a shaft 23. Kickers 24 are fixed on the shaft 23 and depend therefrom adj acent the frame structure I3. The kickers 24 are connected for operation in unison by a bar 25.

The usual compression link of the system 2 is removed and a telescopic rod 26 is substituted therefor. Therod 26 includes male and female sections 21 and 28, respectively, the former being pivotally connected at 28 to the system 2. The section 28 is pivotally secured at 30 between the iligper portions of the members I! of the frame Fixed on the forward portion of the member 21 of the rod 26 is a collar 3I. Aspring loaded latch 32 is pivotally mounted on the member 28 and engageable with the collar 3| for releasably securing the rod-26 in retracted or unextended position. A link 33 has one end pivotally connected to the rod 26 and its other end pivotally connected to the bar 25. A chain 34 from the draw bar I is connected to the upper portion of the frame I3 1flor liirinziting downward swinging movement of the It is thought that the operation of the device the foregoing. Briefly, the links 3 of the system 2 are swung downwardly to lover the head 12 to a point closely adjacent the ground to permit When the point at which the load is to be dumped is reached, the latch 32 is disengaged from the collar 3| for permitting the head I? to swing downwardly by gravity. The telescopically extenslble rod 26 permits this. when the head [2 swings downwardly, the rod section 28 slides rearwardly on the section 21 and the link 33 swings the kickers 24 rearwardly in a manner to assist in removing the load. The apparatus may then be swung downwardly into engagement with the ground for causing the head I 2 to swing upwardly thereby moving the member 28 forwardly on the member 2'! for engaging the latch 32 with the collar 3|. Or, this may be accomplished by connecting a rope or cable to the head i2.

It is believed that the many advantages of a manure fork constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may" asaases vertical swinging movement on a tractor, a head pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on, said arm, a. parallel device connected to the tractor and to the head for releasably securing said head in a substantially horizontal plane, a plurality of kickers mounted on the head, and means operatively connecting the parallel device to the kickers for actuating said kickers for assisting in unloading the head when said head is swung downwardly.

2. A fork of the character described comprising an arm, means for mounting said arm on a tractor for vertical swinging movement, a head pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on the arm, a rod connected to the tractor and to the head for maintaining said head in a substantially horizontal plane, said rod including male and female telescopic sections, means for releasably securing the rod in retracted position,

and means operable by the rod for removing the load from the head when said head is swung downwardly on the arm.

3. A parallel device for a fork head pivoted on an arm vertically swingable by the hydraulic lift of a tractor, said device comprising an exten ible rod including telescopically connected male and female rod sections one adapted to be pivoted at one end to said head and the other adapted to be pivoted at one end to said tractor, a collar fixed on the male rod section, a latch pivotally mounted on the female rod section and engaged with said collar for releasably securing said rod against extension, a swingable kicker device adapted to be mounted on said head for operation to unload the same, and means to operate said kicker device by extension of said rod.

RAYMOND W. HAYWARD. 

